Leadership

Jesus said, “All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18). Christ is the head of the Church and he proclaimed the Church his, "...and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 16:18, 19). The Lord gave the great responsibility of Church leadership to spiritually mature men (I Timothy 3.1-7 and Titus 1).

Elders are qualified men whom God gave the authority of oversight (Acts 20:28) to the local flock in which they belong (1 Peter 5:2). These are men of character, principal, and discipline to God's Word. They shepard the flock tending to spiritual matters and guarding against false doctrine.

Deacons are qualified men God authorized to serve his Church (Acts 6:1-4). They take care of physical responsibilities while the elder take care of spiritual responsibilities. Deacons, under the elders, maintain the building, the grounds, needy saints, equipment, and other such matters.

Evangelists are knowledgeable men who teach God's Word in love and truth. They preach that Jesus is our hope (1 Corinthians 15:19-22), our example, and his Word is our one and only guide (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Elders

The New Testament writers used three words to describe the leaders of the local church: “Presbuterus” which means Presbyter or Elder, “Episcopus” which means Bishop or Overseer, and “Poimen” which means Shepherd or Pastor. Peter uses these three words in 1 Peter 5:1-2 when he says, “To the elders who are among you I exhort…shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by constraint but willingly, not for dishonest gain, but eagerly…”

These three words that describe the leaders of the local church are also used in Acts 20 where Paul says to the Ephesian elders in verse 28, “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” As members of a local church, we are that flock, and our overseers have a spiritual responsibility to shepherd or lead us down the correct spiritual path—and they will give an account to God for that leadership (Hebrews 13:17). These men are selected from the older, most experienced, most knowledgeable, and most spiritual members in the local church—according to qualifications listed in Titus 1:5-11 and 1 Timothy 3:1-10. At the Timberland Drive church of Christ, we are blessed to currently have seven men who oversee the spiritual welfare of the church.

Jim Rhiddlehoover (Not Pictured)

John Adams

Elder

Mike Penn

Elder

Tim Beamon

Elder

Larry Davis

Elder

Joe Penn

Elder

Jim Rhiddlehoover

Elder

Harold Hancock

Evangelist/Elder

Deacons

We also have six men who serve as deacons, or special servants, to the needs of the Timberland Drive church of Christ—selected according to qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. Generally, these deacons take care of physical responsibilities while the elders oversee the spiritual matters.

Ty Thornton (Not Pictured)

Jerry Johnson

Deacon

Ted A Lankford

Deacon

Jim Lynn

Deacon

Shawn Penn

Deacon

Monte Ramsey

Deacon

Evangelists

One of the primary responsibilities of the church is to preach and teach the gospel to our members, in the Lufkin area, and around the world (Matthew 28:18-20). To aide us in accomplishing this goal, we support evangelists who devote their lives to preaching the gospel. Their duty is expressed by Paul when he wrote to his “son in the faith,” the young evangelist Timothy:

2 Timothy 4:1-5 “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

We are blessed to have two evangelists who serve the Timberland Drive church of Christ, in addition to men we help support throughout the world.